Alex McLeish is expected to arrive in Glasgow on Friday for a face-to-face with the SFA as he edges closer to getting the Scotland job.

Record Sport understands McLeish could be appointed before the weekend barring any late change of heart by the Hampden blazers who have been split over the decision to make him Gordon Strachan’s successor.

McLeish has been championed by vice president Rod Petrie and is also believed to have received strong support from president Alan McRae.

(Image: DAILY RECORD)

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But other members of the seven strong board have required some convincing that the 59-year-old former Rangers and Hibs boss should be given a second term in office - ten years after quitting the position for the lure of managing in the English Premier League with Birmingham City.

Walter Smith had been their preferred candidate and there was an angry reaction inside the boardroom when McRae bungled the SFA’s approach so badly that the veteran chose not to come out of retirement and withdraw himself completely from consideration.

But now we understand the board is moving towards consensus and McLeish is preparing to fly up from England for a final round of talks before putting pen to paper on what is likely to be a two year contract and a chance of leading the country to a first major finals in more than two decades at Euro 2020.

Some of the directors had been pushing for a new chief executive to be head hunted before pinning down a manager but with two friendly matches to be played next month against Costa Rica and Hungary, McRae and Petrie are adamant that Strachan’s replacement should be secured as quickly as possible.

Now McLeish is set to answer their S.O.S. by travelling back over the border to clinch a dream return to management.